Free of Cryogen low temperature sample environment

The prototype of the free of cryogen system based on the PTR
for providing cryogenic sample environment for
neutron scattering experiments. View full-size image

Recent rapid progress in free of cryogen technology has become possible due to a new generation of commercial cryocoolers developed during the last decade.

The most successful example is the Pulse Tube Refrigerator (PTR). A unique feature of the PTR is the absence of cold moving parts. This considerably reduces the generated vibration and increases the reliability of the cold head, as expensive high-precision seals are no longer required and the cold head can be operated without service inspection. In order to introduce PTR into cryogenic sample environment for neutron scattering experiments, ISIS user support group started a project to create a free of cryogen system as a substitute for the conventional ILL-type Orange cryostat which has been the cryogenic workhorse of the neutron community for many years. The free of cryogen system prototype has successfully passed initial tests and we are now in the final stages of the project.